Chapter One:
As planned Sailor Moon was at the clock tower at eleven o�clock, ready to come face to face with the Negaverse. However, things were different now. She really was leaving the Sailor Scouts, they clearly didn�t want her. She was on her own. But oddly enough, she wasn�t scared. She felt calm and at peace. Any other time she would be in tears over this, wailing as loudly as possible, but now, it didn�t seem to make sense. Why should she be upset over people who were just using her to begin with, friends only because of their current situation. And then plotting behind her back. No, she had no more tears to shed over them, and they weren�t worth it. The other sailor scouts saw her as selfish and spoiled when that was so far from the truth it was unbelievable. She was always putting her friends first, always there for them when they needed her. She had given up most of the previous year of her junior high life. She�d never ASKED to be Sailor Moon, let alone Moon Princess. She never got to spend any time with Molly anymore, she was always too tired from the fights she was forced into. Her family were practically just there now, she was rarely ever home. And although she dreamed about guys a lot, especially Darien, she knew that being Sailor Moon would never allow her anytime to date or be a regular teenager at all. She wanted her life back.
�Sailor Moon, I presume?� came a dark voice from behind.
Sailor Moon whirled around and saw the hippy-reporter Nancy Barges, negamonster in disguise. �Hey, how�d you?�
Nancy interrupted, �Let�s get one thing straight here, I�m the one asking the questions.�
�Well excuse me, but I�m not used to squealing to the press.� Oh, she so was NOT in the mood for games.
The reporter grinned, �So spill, is it true, you�re leaving the hero business.�
Sailor Moon briefly remembered what she�d planned to say, but, now facts being what they were, her lines had changed. She bowed her head, tears sliding down her cheeks. �Yes, the other scouts don�t want me for their leader and I don�t like being used.�
The other scouts, hiding in the bushes as was planned, jumped a little. She wasn�t supposed to say something like that. Was she?
Nancy smirked and morphed into Ninjana.
Sailor Moon was wide-eyed, although she expected this, �You�re the burglar who broke into Molly�s.�
Ninja landed, �More than a mere burglar.� She looked up to the top of the clock tower. �Welcome Lord Malachite.�
Sailor Moon tried to swallow her fear as Malachite appeared above her. �Wh�what are you doing here?� She didn�t expect him to show up so soon.
Malachite answered, with a tone of victory in his voice, �I have come to give you your wish Sailor Moon. All you have to do is hand over the wand and come with me.�
Sailor Moon countered, �What! Betray the Earth, just because I�m leaving the scouts. Forget it!�
�Not even to save your pal, you know, Tuxedo Mask, he�s not doing so well.�
The heroine cringed, no way, �You�re bluffing!� Please say he�s bluffing, she thought to himself. �He doesn�t even remember me!�
�Of course he does, that�s why we have to get rid of you.� Malachite assured her.
�No, you�re lying, you have to be!�
Malachite phased out and back directly in front of her, clearly angry. �I don�t like being called a liar! Now, hand over that wand and crystal, if you ever want to see him again.� Sailor Moon bit her lip. What should she do? Malachite smirked at the sight of the obvious inner struggle going on inside her. �Come on Sailor Moon, you just said you weren�t wanted, that you were tired of being used. Come back with us, Queen Beryl will make it worth your while. Anything you want.�
Sailor Moon thought and thought, how could she decide. Just hours ago, she would have stalled him as long as she could until the others came to her rescue. And then she�d use the moon wand and save the reporter and have a way into the Negaverse too. But now, his offer was tempting. Maybe they could help her. Maybe it would be better if she just gave in. She�d be with Darien and the other scouts wouldn�t be able to use her anymore, they wouldn�t be able to simply betray her and hope they�d succeed. And she wouldn�t have to pretend like she never heard anything either. Maybe they could give her back her life. But, of course, she�d have to have some conditions. After all, she was only a junior high student, she did want to finish school and her family, she couldn�t leave them, not yet. They would worry too much. And maybe she could convince Beryl that Earth was a terrible choice for an addition to her empire.
Impatient with the wait, Malachite shouted, �Well, what is your decision?�
�I�If I do, I have�some conditions! But I�ll only talk to Beryl, I don�t trust you. Take me to her, I�ll give her the crystal myself.� She�d made up her mind.
Malachite grit his teeth. How dare the brat talk to him like that! �Very well,� He raised his hand, forming a portal behind her. �That warp hole will take you there, to your freedom.�
�SAILOR MOON WAIT!!!� Came a chorus of yells as the other four scouts appeared.
Sailor Jupiter appeared distressed, �Why are you going with them Sailor Moon? This wasn�t the plan!�
Malachite glared at Sailor Moon, �Plan? So this was all a trick?�
�It was supposed to be,� Sailor Moon said honestly, �But, there�s also another plan, one I had no idea about until tonight. Something about waiting until Beryl is toasted and then toasting me.�
All four sets of eyes went large as they realized they were busted.
�What are you talking about Sailor Moon?� Sailor Venus asked. �You�re our princess, we�d never do such a thing, you must have imagined it.�
�Probably had to carry too many gallons of water on her shoulders,� Mars fired at her, totally forgetting their enemy�s presence. �Huh, Meatball Head!�
�Stop it Mars, this is serious.� Mercury scolded the priestess. �But they�re right, Sailor Moon, we�d never hurt you. You�re the princess and our friend! Don�t do this!�
Sailor Moon rubbed at the tears in her eyes. �You�re lying, I know you are! I heard it. And you were the worst of them Venus,� she sobbed, �You were the one saying that it was better to lead me on. None of you are really my friends, you just want the crystal.� She looked at them all, �Well, are you going to try denying it again! Because with friends like you who needs enemies!� She turned her back on them all, facing the warp hole. She looked at Malachite, �Yes, in the beginning it was a trick, but now, I really am coming. I gave up a lot to be Sailor Moon, and it just isn�t worth it anymore after what they did!� She stepped towards the portal.
�Sailor Moon, wait!� Mars called. �How do you plan to hand Beryl the crystal when we have it.� She held up the crescent moon wand.
Sailor Moon frowned, �And what are you doing with it, Mars?�
Mars shot back, �You stupidly left it under my bed! So I kept it!�
�Liar! I had that in my bag just this afternoon at school! You stole it!� Sailor Moon accused, she was right though. Of course Mars would say that. Clearly she was the mastermind behind this whole plot. Oh boy, did she ever choose the wrong friends. �Give it back!�
Mars shook her head, �You ditz, you really think I�m going to give it to you when you plan to hand it to Beryl! This is why we don�t want you for our leader. You�re such an airhead, Sailor Moon!� She continued while twirling the wand around. �Yeah, you�re right, we were planning to wait until after Beryl was defeated but now, seems we have to do it now! Ready guys?� She looked at the other three who suddenly didn�t look all that friendly to Serena. All three nodded to Sailor Moon�s horror.
�Yes, we�re so sorry Sailor Moon, but you just are not ready for this responsibility. It would be better if you just surrender and go home and study for tomorrow�s math exam.� Mercury coaxed her classmate.
�Yeah, Sailor Moon, we don�t want to hurt you, you just don�t have what it takes to be the Moon Princess.� Jupiter stated matter-of-factly.
Sailor Moon realized that she was going to have to fight to get her wand back. �Forget it! Now give me back my wand!�
Malachite simply watched as the scouts prepared to practically destroy each other. So, Ninjana had been right after all. There was certainly a mutiny going on here. He wondered how Sailor Moon would fight back. Funny, her look of determination actually resembled Zoycite�s, slightly.
Her demand was answered with a jump kick from Sailor Jupiter, landing smack in her chest, �We won�t let you do this Sailor Moon! Now go home! Forget the crystal and the Sailor Scouts. You don�t belong with us!�
Sailor Moon fought to get up, impressing Malachite, although he�d never admit it. �No! I want my wand! And I AM a Sailor Scout! And I won�t let you get away with betraying me like this! I am Sailor Moon, Champion of Justice and on behalf of the Moon, I will right all wrongs and triumph over traitors like you!� Old habits die hard. She took off her tiara, �MOON TIARA MAGIC! BIND THEM!�
The tiara formed a hoop and trapped all but Sailor Mars. �Give it up, Sailor Moon, we have the wand now! We have the crystal! We�ll stop Beryl and save the world by ourselves, we don�t need you.� She put her hands together. �MARS FIRE IGNITE!!!�
The fiery blast headed straight for her before she could do anything. She screamed and closed her eyes, prepared for the pain of the terrible heat. But a pair of strong arms wrapped around her and pulled her out of the way. When she opened her eyes, she was floating in midair, held in the strong arms of��Malachite?!
�You�you saved me.�
�Yes, now, Ninjana, go after Sailor Mars!�
The ninja-demon lashed out a long red ribbon tying around Mars� arms and waist, much like Sailor Moon�s tiara was binding the other three scouts. �Try and get your way out of this one, Sailor Twit!�
Malachite placed Sailor Moon down at Sailor Mars� side. �Now, get that wand.� He motioned to the wand that Mars had been forced to drop when the rope had wrapped her up.
Sailor Moon bent down and picked up the wand. �Thank you,� She looked at Malachite, �For saving me.� She headed towards the portal again.
�Sailor Moon, please, don�t do this!� Venus shouted. �Don�t betray us this way! Don�t leave the Earth to those negaslime!�
Sailor Moon ignored Venus, and the others when they joined in protesting. She walked right into the warp hole, without looking back. Right behind her followed, Malachite and the youma, Ninjana. Sailor Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Venus could only watch helplessly as their betrayed friend left them behind.
AN: I know, very OOC for many of the characters, but I thought that was obvious. Oh, and many of you said that I should still leave it Serena/Darien, but, that�s so commonly done. I think it�s time those two pulled a Barbie and Ken and go for a road less traveled.
Next Chapter: Sailor Moon gives Beryl her conditions and joins the Negaverse
